REBELS END WESTERN FORCE WINNING STREAK

Apr 18 • General News, Super Rugby • 1548 Views • Comments Off on REBELS END WESTERN FORCE WINNING STREAK

The Western Force’s winning streak has come to an end at the hands of the Melbourne Rebels, 22-16, at Melbourne’s AAMI Park tonight.

The Western Australians entered the match with five successive victories over the Rebels, Highlanders, Chiefs, Reds and Waratahs, but a return leg triumph over the Victorians wasn’t to be with the Rebels capitalising on a superior possession rate to run out six-point victors.

The bulk of the scoring Rebels’ damage came through the boot of fullback Jason Woodward (17 points), while the only try-scoring came in the second half with both sides crossing for one try apiece.

Despite the loss, the Force managed a consolation bonus point when winger Nick Cummins backed up last weekend’s three-try performance with another five-pointer on full-time to draw the final result to within seven points.

Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley said his side’s inability to dominate at the scrum and breakdown were pivotal towards deciding the result.
“We weren’t able to get enough momentum through the early half of the game and that took its toll through the back half of the game,” he said.

“The game was close at half-time but we’d had to do a lot more work than what we really should have to make up for some of the things we weren’t doing proactively. We had to reactively defend when we could have been at the other end of the field attacking.

“Last week our lineout was a little bit off and that meant we didn’t have a lot of ball to play with; this week a little bit of the work at the breakdown was off. It’s only fine margins and it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, they’ll get under your guard and have you chasing the game.

“We’re disappointed with some of the aspects of that game but watching our reserves come on and play like they did to pull that bonus point back for us was really pleasing.

“The guys are disappointed but we get an opportunity to respond next week; we play the Bulls and that’s going to be a massive challenge.”

With the Western Force forced to play with just 38 per cent of possession through the first half, scoring transpired into a penalty shootout between Force flyhalf Sias Ebersohn and Woodward, with the sides heading to the break locked up at 6-all.

While Ebersohn and Woodward again traded early penalty goals early in the second term, the Victorian fullback’s second penalty for the half and a stretching, one-handed try to No.8 Scott Higginbotham from the back of a five-metre scrum proved decisive, giving the home side a 19-9 lead with 18 minutes remaining.

Woodward extended the lead with another penalty three minutes from full-time, before Western Force inside centre Kyle Godwin put Cummins outside a stretched Rebels defence to score under the posts on full-time.

The Force returns to Perth next week to take on the Bulls at the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium) on Saturday, 26 April.

2014 Asteron Life Super Rugby – Week 10
Friday, 18 April 2014 at AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 7.40pm (local)/5.40pm (AWST)

Melbourne Rebels 22 (Scott Higginbotham tries; Jason Woodward 1/1 conversion, 5/7 penalties) defeated Western Force 16 (Nick Cummins try; Sias Ebersohn 3/3 penalties, 0/1 drop goal, Zack Holmes 1/1 conversion)

Western Force:
1. Pek Cowan, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Kieran Longbottom, 4. Adam Coleman, 5. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Matt Hodgson (c), 8. Ben McCalman, 9. Ian Prior, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 11. Nick Cummins, 12. Kyle Godwin, 13. Marcel Brache, 14. Patrick Dellit, 15. Dane Haylett-Petty. Res: 16. Heath Tessmann, 17. Tetera Faulkner, 18. Ollie Hoskins, 19. Phoenix Battye, 20. Brynard Stander, 21. Justin Turner, 22. Zack Holmes, 23. Chris Tuatara-Morrison.
Coach: Michael Foley

Melbourne Rebels:
1. Toby Smith, 2. Shota Horie, 3. Laurie Weeks, 4. Cadeyrn Neville, 5. Luke Jones, 6. Colby Fainga’a, 7. Scott Fuglistaller, 8. Scott Higginbotham (c), 9. Nic Stirzaker, 10. Bryce Hegarty, 11. Tom English, 12. Mitch Inman, 13. Tamati Ellison, 14. Male Sau, 15 Jason Woodward. Res: 16. Pat Leafa, 17. Cruze Ah-Nau, 18. Paul Alo-Emile, 19. Hugh Pyle, 20. Sean McMahon, 21. Luke Burgess, 22 Tom Kingston, 23. Angus Roberts.
Coach: Tony McGahan

Yellow Cards: Tamati Ellison (80th min)
Red Cards: Nil
Referee: Andrew Lees

By the Clock

Min
Details
Score
5
Sias Ebersohn Penalty Goal
0-3
13
Jason Woodward Penalty Goal
3-3
17
Sias Ebersohn Missed DG
3-3
20
Sias Ebersohn Penalty Goal
3-6
27
Jason Woodward Penalty Goal
6-6
35
Jason Woodward Missed PG
6-6
45
Jason Woodward Penalty Goal
9-6
51
Sias Ebersohn Penalty Goal
9-9
56
Jason Woodward Penalty Goal
12-9
61
Scott Higginbotham Try
17-9
62
Jason Woodward Conversion
19-9
66
Jason Woodward Missed PG
19-9
77
Jason Woodward Penalty Goal
22-9
80
Tamati Ellison Sin Bin
22-9
80
Nick Cummins Try
22-14
80
Zack Holmes Conversion
22-16